2of2U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, left, and French Finance Minister Francois Baroin, answer reporters after their meeting in Paris, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. Geithner is touring Europe with a stark message, that the continent's leaders must act quickly and convincingly to defuse a debt crisis that is threatening the global economy. His visit this week comes on the eve of a summit of European leaders Friday that could yield a plan for resolving the crisis. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)Photo: Jacques Brinon

FRANKFURT, Germany - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is darting across Europe with a stark message: The continent's leaders must act quickly and convincingly to defuse a debt crisis threatening the global economy.

His visit this week comes on the eve of a summit of European leaders Friday that could yield a plan for resolving the crisis. Optimists hope a deal would persuade investors to lend to countries, like Italy and Spain, that are straining under crushing debt burdens.

Geithner's trip is the most visible part of a broader drive the U.S. has been making, publicly and privately, to nudge Europe to resolve its crisis.

The United States has plenty at stake. A still-fragile U.S. economy remains vulnerable to any financial contagion that might erupt in Europe. If banks that are sitting on piles of European government debt cut off lending, the global economy would suffer.

And with President Barack Obama facing re-election in less than a year, the outcome of Europe's crisis carries risks for him personally.

Besides Geithner's trip to press European officials, the U.S. government is acting in other ways. The Federal Reserve took a leading role last week in crafting a plan with other central banks to make it easier for banks to borrow U.S. dollars and continue lending. The move is a short-term fix that doesn't lighten Europe's debt load. But it excited investors, who drew hope that the top economic powers can jointly resolve the crisis.